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U.S. government issues dynamic positioning (DP) system failure alert

On May 20, 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issued a joint alert prompted by a recent failure of a vessel dynamic positioning system where significant negative consequences were narrowly averted. The incident occurred in part because deferred overdue maintenance was being conducted at the time the vessel lost position and had to perform an emergency disconnect from the active well. Both agencies strongly recommended that marine companies operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico adhere to DP guidance issued by the Marine Technological Society and as referenced in a U.S. Coast Guard notice recommending voluntary guidance issued on October 12, 2012.

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